Therapeutic effects of PolyPHb on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis: implications for improved oxygenation

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, irreversible, and fatal interstitial lung disease of unknown cause, characterized by severe dyspnea, restrictive lung function, impaired gas exchange, and progressive destruction of pulmonary tissue. While approved drugs can slow disease progression, improving patients’ quality of life remains a critical challenge. PolyPHb, a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC) derived from virally inactivated and purified human placental hemoglobin, efficiently transports and releases oxygen. In this study, we show that PolyPHb enhances exercise tolerance and mitigates inflammation and fibrosis in a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse model. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we performed transcriptomic analysis of lung tissues following PolyPHb treatment, revealing potential regulatory networks involved in its protective effects. These results provide new insights into potential interventions of PolyPHb in IPF and suggest that it may contribute to improved functional outcomes, though further studies are needed to fully define its impact on exercise capacity and quality of life.